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A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF COMPACTING PROGRAMS, SERVICES FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES AND OWNERSHIP OF FACILITIES OF THE CLAREMORE SERVICE UNIT
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WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation (“Nation”) since time immemorial has exercised the sovereign rights of self-government on behalf of the Cherokee people;
WHEREAS, the Nation is a federally recognized Indian Nation with a historic and continual government to government relationship with the United States of America;
WHEREAS, the Nation has exclusive tribal jurisdiction over the Cherokee Nation Reservation, the geographic scope of which is defined in federal and Cherokee Nation law.
WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation has a long-standing and indispensable relationship with the United States as to the delivery of health services to Cherokee citizens, principally through the federal Indian Health Service (IHS);
WHEREAS, IHS operates an in-patient and outpatient facility for Cherokee Nation citizens and other IHS beneficiaries, in Claremore, Oklahoma, in continuous operations since 1930, presently located at 101 S. Moore Avenue, Claremore OK 74017, referred to herein as “Claremore Service Unit” and commonly and historically referred to as “Claremore Indian Hospital”;
WHEREAS Cherokee Nation and IHS have worked collaboratively to improve services administered through Claremore Service Unit, including but not limited to Cherokee Nation’s compacting of purchased and referred care, formerly known as “contract health care”;
WHEREAS the Council of the Cherokee Nation, by Resolution 40-22, of September 19, 2022 <https://cherokee.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5807853&GUID=A2DBF1C9-7F40-4633-B094-98705D736257&Options=ID%7CText%7C&Search=claremore&FullText=1>, expressed support of a study of Claremore Service Unit to examine improvements across “a range of opportunities, from recommendations to Indian Health Service, to the delivery of certain service under compact, to complete assumption of operations Cherokee Nation,” and whereas said report issued to the Council on September 11, 2023 <https://www.cherokee.org/media/5gjo0sjp/white-paper-claremore-prc-91123.pdf>;
WHEREAS the Principal Chief, in his State of the Nation address delivered on August 31, 2024 <https://www.anadisgoi.com/images/2024August/sotn/ChiefHoskinStateoftheNation2024.docx>, declared that Cherokee Nation should “…take ownership and control of the Claremore Indian Hospital by the end of 2025…,” consistent with aspirational statements previously expressed among Cherokee Nation leaders and citizens and consistent with the provisions of Resolution 40-22;
WHEREAS the Council has determined that it is in the best interests of the Cherokee Nation and all IHS beneficiaries to support the compacting of Claremore Service Unit, including the assumption of ownership and all facilities and operations;
WHEREAS the Council of the Cherokee Nation expressly supports the Principal Chief, by his designees, immediately undertaking a Self-Governance planning process regarding the operation of all applicable programs, services, functions and activities (PSFAs) at Claremore Service Unit;
WHEREAS the Council of the Cherokee Nation encourages the Principal Chief and his designees to conclude the aforementioned Claremore Service Unit Self-Governance planning process in advance of the approval of the fiscal year 2026 Cherokee Nation budget.
WHEREAS notwithstanding the provision of support of said compacting and self-governance planning of Claremore Service Unit, the Council of the Cherokee Nation retains all oversight and appropriation authority relating to the Claremore Service Unit;
WHEREAS the Council, in order to exercise its oversight authority as it relates to the compacting of the Claremore Service Unit as described herein, requests periodic reports on the subject at the Council’s health committee on no less than a quarterly basis commencing with the first quarter of fiscal year 2025;
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION that the Council of the Cherokee Nation supports the Principal Chief’s call for the assumption of ownership and control of facilities and operations at the Claremore Services Unit for fiscal year 2026 by immediately undertaking a self-governance planning process with Indian Health Service; that such action is in the best interests of the Cherokee Nation and all IHS beneficiaries; that the Council requests quarterly updates on this subject commencing with the first quarter of fiscal year 2025; that the Council retains all oversight and appropriations authority on the subject notwithstanding the expression of support in this resolution;